Lifting jack



March 18, 1941;. M- B. LUCKER 2,234,970

LIFTING JACK Y Fjled April 1'7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18,1941.

M. B. LucKER 2,234,970

LIFTING JACK 2 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed Apri; 17, 193e;`

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Patented Mar. i8, i941 UNITED STATE ETEN OFFIQ Auto SpecialtiesManuiacturlng Co... dt. Joseph, Mich., a corporation oi MichiganApplication April 17, i936, Serial No. 74,969

` 14 Claims.

This invention relates to lifting jacks; and more particularly to a jackof the friction `col-- lar type especially adapted for use withautomotive vehicles and the like.

dt is an object' of the invention to provide a lifting jack of thefriction grip type which is of improved and simpliiied construction. Inaccordance with the invention the jack parts can be more easily made andassembled, thus insuring lower cost and facility of production. Morespecifically, the invention in one of its phases provides a jack bodywhich surrounds the central shaft, of individual parts which may hereadily `formed and assembled. These body parts may be either cast orstamped from sheet metal.

A further object is to provide a new and sim;- plified arrangement forresiliently urging the actuating clamp into normal uncanted position.

lt is a still iurther and important object of the invention to provide alifting jack of the ltrlction grip type which has improved operatingcharacteristics, which is rapid in placement, load contacting, and loadraising and releasing, and

" yet which insures a maximum of safety at all times. ln accordance withthe invention a load engaging member or saddle is provided which isadjustable to accommodate the position of the load to be raised. Thismember, together with the compactness of the jack as a whole and thespeed with which the lifting body may loe raised along the spindle,insures speedy jaclr placement and load contacting. The loadA engadingmember also aids in retaining the Jael: loody parts .in assembledposition. Means 4are also provided for insuring that the lowering oi thejaclr. may be rapid but positively and accurately controlled. Thelowering or release means is simple and fast and yet insures absolutesafety in that thelowering movement is always under positive andaccurate control. More specifically in one form of the invention therelease is controlled by an invariably positioned removable elongatedbar, and in another form by means o an adjustable screw.

lltheiP ohjects and advantages of the invention will he apparent fromthe following description when tation in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate certain preferred emdiments otthe invention.

liu the drawings. wherein like reference numerals reier to like partsthroughout:

Figure l is an elevational view showing a lifting jack constructed inaccordance with one iorm ci the invention..

(ci. 25a-fics) Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view 4 oi'the jack oi' Figure l talren alongkthe line y 2-t oi Figure 3- ligure 3is also a sectional view but along the line t-d of Figure l.

Figure t is a transverse sectional view taken along the line d--t ofFigure l.

Figure 5 is a view similar toliigure but showing the actuating clamp inoperated position. i

Figure 6 is an exploded view more particularly illustrating' the jaclibody oi metal castings.

Figure 'l' is a detail perspective oi the load engaging saddle.

Figure d is a detail perspective oi? the holding clamp.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective ol "the actuating clamp.

Figure ld is an exploded view showing the jack body parts as made iromstamped sheet metal.

Figure ll. illustrates a modillcation oi' the invention wherein therelease oi the holding clamp is enacted by means oi an adjustable screw,and

Figure l2 is a cut-away view of the device of Figure ll taken along theline lt--lt thereof.V

This application is a continuation-impart of my prior copendlngapplication Serial No. 43,752, filed October 5, 1935, i'or Lifting lack.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, it will be seen that thisembodiment oi? the invention, shown for purposes of illustration,comprises a base ld having an upstandlng shaft or standard ll xedthereto in any suitable manner as by means of a pin or the like. Thestandard ll carries the lifting body lt ot the ,lack which4 is adaptedfor sliding movement therealong. ln this form oi the invention thelifting 40 body y is composed of two metal castings I3 and It as bestseen in Figure 6. These two castings are secured together at theirbottoms by means of screws or rivets it which pass through holes inflanges formed at the bottoms of the castings. .i5 The body parts aresecured together at the top hy means oi. the load engaging saddle lllwhich embraces hoth hotly' parts and which is held against removal fromthe body hy means oi a beaded nange lll :formed at the extreme upperportion ci the hody castings. The saddle ls retained against movementdownwardly along the body members hy means oi the flange it termedthereon. The saddle is rotatable about the body so that its object orload engaging portion i9 55 may be readily moved to the desired loadengaging position. The load, as illustrated, is a portion I4 of thebumper of an automotive vehicle, as the lifting jack of the presentinvention is particularly adapted for use in such connection. It is tobe understood, however, that the jack may be applied to other portionsof a vehicle or to other types of loads to be raised.

A housing 20 formed at the lower portion of the lifting body carries theactuating clamp 2| and the holding clamp 22 of the jack operatingmechanism. As will be seen by reference to Figure 9, the actuating clamphas formed on the upper face thereof a lug 23 adapted for engage-` mentwith the body housing when the actuating clamp is in its upper normalposition as shown in Figure 2. LA pair of diametrica-lly disposed lugs24 are also formed on the upper face of the actuating clamp to which thelower ends of a pair of springs 25 are secured. The upper ends of thesprings are anchored to projections 2E formed on the lifting bodymembers. The operating lever 21 for the jack is pivoted by means of apin 28 to the body members and has an operating portion 29 adapted forengagement with the top of the actuating clamp at a point diametricallyspaced from the projection23.

The holding clamp 22 has an extending portion 30 journalled in anopening 3| formed in the housing 20 as bt seen in Figure 3. The holdingclamp is also formed with a projection 32 adapted to extend through anopening 33 formed in the housing diametrically to the opening 3|. Acompression spring 34 arranged between a cup 36 formed on the lowersideof the projection 32 and a cup 38 formed on the body castingnormally holds the holding clamp in canted position. The housing 2lialso carries an integral projection 31 which, as best seen in Figure 1,is upwardly and laterally spaced from the projection 32 oi the holdingclamp. The release bar 38, by which the jack is lowered, is adapted forcooperation on. its upper face with the housing lug 31 and on its lowerface with the projection 32 of the holding clamp as will be bestunderstood by reference to Figure l. Lug 31 forms a fulcrum for the bar.

In assembling the jack the two parts I3 and I4 of the lifting body I2are brought into operative juxtaposition with the holding clamp 22 andthe actuating clamp 2| arranged within their housing portions. Thesprings 25, which have been previously secured to the actuating clamp,are connected to the projections 28 on the body parts, and the springsare stretched slightly as the actuating clamp is forced down- Wardlyinto the housing portion 20 of the body. With the body parts thuspositioned, the screws or rivets I5 may be inserted to secure the lowerbody portions together. The load engaging saddle I6 is then slipped overthe upper portions of the body parts into engagement with the flange |8after which the flange I1 may be -beaded over the top of the saddle tosecure it ure 3 whereby to cause the biting edges of its central openingto grip the standard II and prevent the lifting body |2 from downwardmovement along the standard. The actuating clamp 2| is held in itsnormal uncanted and upward position by the springs 25. As the end of theoperating lever 2'I is moved upwardly, as indicated by the arrow inFigure 2, its engaging portion 29 causes the actuating clamp 2| to cantt0 bring the biting edges of its central opening into tight engagementagainst the standard II. As the movement of the operating lever iscontinued as indicated in Figure 5, the actuating clamp acts as areaction base causing the entire lifting casting 'to move upwardly alongthe standard. The holding clamp does not prevent such upward movement,but moves upwardly with the body I2 and by reason of the spring 34preventsany retrograde movement, thus holding the body in its new upwardposition. As the operating lever is returned to normal position, thesprings 25 draw the actuating clamp into normal uncanted upwardposition. The operation may be repeated until the 'lifting body isbrought up to the desired position. Prior to engagement with the load,the entire lifting body may be lifted by hand upwardly along thestandard II, without manipulation of the operating lever I21, the clamps2| and 22 readily permitting this preliminary adjustment movement. Theload engaging saddle member I6 may be readily revolved about the bodywhereby to bring its load engaging portion I9 into the desired operativeposition. These features insure speed of jack placement and loadraising.

To release the lifting body, the release bar 38 is brought into positionas shown in Figure 1 with its upper side in engagement with the housinglug 31 and its lower side in engagement with the projection 32 on theholding clamp. As the right end of the bar 38 is now lowered, asindicated by the arrow in Figure l, the spring 34 will be compressed,allowing the holding clamp to release its grip upon the standard.Downward movement of the lifting body under the load causes acorresponding lowering of the left kend of the release bar, and thisresults in the relief of downward pressure against the projection 32 ofthe holding clamp. The spring 3l thereupon causes the holding clamp toagain grip the standard II. In other words, the lifting body I2 can belowered only at the same time that the right end of the release bar isbeing lowered. If movement of the operating end of the release bar isstopped, the downward movement of the lifting body also immediatelystops. By this means the downward movement 'of the liftingbody is underaccurate and positive control at all times whereby to insure completesafety as well as ease of operation. It is to be noted that due to thepositioning of the lug 31 with respect to the projection 32 of theholding clamp, the release bar 38 can only be operatively inserted inone position, that shown in Figure 1. So long as the release bar isintroduced from the accessible side of the jack, adjacent the operatinglever 21, it is impossible t0 improperly manipulate the bar. The releaseis rapid but positively controlled.

In Fiure 1o the lifting body or the Jack is shown asvformed of two sheetmetal stampings 40 and 4|. These body members are of substantially thesame shape as the cast body members I3 and 4 described in connectionwith the first illustrated embodiment of the invention, and the maniiiner of assembly and operation is the same. In the case of the stampedbody members, the members will be provided with openings 42 throughwhich pins corresponding to lugs 23 may be inserted. Also, the flanges,such as 43, I4 and I6, and the body openings, such as I6 and 41, will inthis instance be formed by bending and punching the metal, rather thanby casting, as is well Aunderstood ln the stamped sheet metal art. It isto be noted that the body members, whether formed by casting or bystamping sheet metal, may be readily and easily produced. There are nodifficult formations to be made. Thus the barrels t8 which house thesprings 25, are merely of cylindrical formation which may be readilyproduced either in a casting or by sheet metal stamping.

` The assembly of the body parts and the operatbill dbi

bil

lng mechanism may be effected with a minimum number of operationswhereby to minimize ass embly costs.

In Figures 1l and l2 there is illustrated a modified means for securingthe accurate and controlled lowering of the lifting body. ln thisinstance the housing 2li-of the lifting body carries a threaded boss i!into which a release screw bi is adapted to be threaded. The conicalinner end iii of the release screw engages the projec-u tion 3l of theholding clamp adjacent its upper face as indicated in Figure il. is therelease screw is rotated by means of a suitable operating tool, itsconical inner end forces the projection of the holding clamp downwardlyagainst the action of compression spring all whereby to release theholding clamp from the standard il. ln this instance the degree to which.the holding clamp is released will be proportional to the degrec ofrotation imparted to the release screw. Accordingly therate at which thelifting body will be lowered under any given load will liliewise beproportional to the degree of rotation imparted to the release screw,and the ratel of descent will will be uniform so long as the adiust=ment of the release screw is not changed. Ey this release means the rateof load descent can he accurately and positively controlled as in thecase of the first described embodiment of the invention. Claims moreparticularly directed Atothe structure of Figs. 1l and if are presentedin my copendlng application, Serial No. 299,338, filed October i3, 1939.Also, claims to other features of the structure disclosed, but notherein claimed, are presented in the aforementioned companionapplication, Serial No. 43,752, filed October d, i935.

It is obvious that various modiflcationsgmay be made in the specificembodiments of the invenm tion shown fon the purpose of illustration.Accordingly the invention is not to be limited to the preciseconstructions shown and described, but only as indicated in thefollowing claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. in a lifting jack of the friction grip type, a base, an upstandingshaft operatively carried by the base, a lifting body composed ofindividual pieces slidable along the axis of said shaft, a hous-f ingformed in said body, actuating and holding;

clamps in said housing embracing the shaft, and a load engaginn membercarried by the lifting body, said load engaging member. embracing aplurality of said pieces and being rotatably ad instable thereon.

t. lin a lifting jaclr of the friction grip type, a base, an upstandingshaft operatively carried by the base, an elongated lifting bodycomprising plurality of individual elongated sheet metal piecescollectively encircling said shaft and slidable therealong, frictiongripping means arranged within said body, means for securing said piecestogether at the top and bottom thereof, and means on at least one ofsaid pieces forming a pivotal engagement 'for `said friction grippingmeans.

3. In a. lifting jack of the friction grip type, a base, an upstandingshaft operatively carried by the base, a lifting body including a pairof individual body pieces secured together and slid- 'ablelongitudinally of the shaft, a housing formed in said body, a frictionclamp in said housing em bracing the shaft, and a pair of springssecured to said clamp-for holding it in position, each of said springsbeing anchored to one of said body pieces. l

4. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, a base, an upstandingshaft operatively carried by the base, a lifting body embracing saidshaft and slidable therealong, a housing formed in said body, a frictionclamp in said housing embracing the shaft, and a pair of springs securedto said clamp at diametrically spaced points and anchored to said bodyfor holding the clamp in position within the housing.

5. ln a lifting iaclr of the friction grip type, a shaft, a bodyembracing the shaft, a housing formed in said body, a friction clampmounted in said housing embracing the shaft, and a pair of springsconnected to said clamp at diametricaily spaced points thereon andanchored to the body for holding the clamp in position within saidhousing.

d. ln a lifting jack of the friction grip type, an elongated shaft, abody embracing said shaft, said body and shaft being relativelyslideble, a holding clamp carried by the body embracing the shaft andadapted to be normally coated to grip the shaft, whereby to hold thebody and shaft against relative movement in one direction., a radiallyer tending projection on the holding clamp, and a lug formed on saidbody, said lug being laterally displaced with respect to the proiectionwhereby to facilitate the proper positioning of a release bar-adaptedfor application to the projection and fulcrum movement upon said lug.

l. in a lifting iaclr of the friction grip type, an elongated shalt, abody on said shaft, said shaft and body being relatively movable, a nousing formed in the body, a locking clamp arranged in the housingembracing the shaft for locking the body and shaft against movement inone di rection, a projection cn said clamp extending ram diallytherefrom, resilient means for normally urging the clamp so as to urgethe projection upwardly to cant the clamp in loclring position, and alug formed on the body, said lug being spaced laterally and upwardlyfrom said projection whereby 'to facilitate the control of a release baradapted for application to the projection and fulcrurn oyelnent upon thelun.

o. in a lifting ,lach of the friction grip type, a shaft, a bodyencircling the shaft, a houston formed in said body, an actuatingfriction clamp mounted in said housing einbre clog the sl'iaft, pair ofk.springs connected to said clamp at nietrlcally spaced points thereonand anchored to the body for holding the clamp in position with in saidhousing, a holding friction clamp also mounted within said housing andembracing the shaft, a spring engageable with the iuildinn.` clamp andwith the housing for normally holding clamp in cantecl friction grippingengagement upon the shaft, and release means engageable with the housingand the holding clamp for mov ing the latter touncanted position againstacticnof its spring.

9. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, axbase,` an upstandingshaft operatively carried by thebase, an elongated lifting bodycomprising a plurality of individual elongated body pieces collectivelyencircling said shaft and slidable therealong, said body pieces forminga substantially enclosed housing, friction gripping means arrangedwithin said housing,.and means for securing said body pieces together atthe top and bottom thereof.

10. In a lifting jack, a base, an upstanding shaft -operatively carriedby the base, a lifting body slidable along and rotatable about saidshaft, frictiony gripping means carried within the body for frictionallygripping the body to the shaft, a laterally extending member pivoted tothe body and adapted on pivoted movement to operate said frictiongripping means, a load engaging member mounted on said lifting body,said load engaging member being shiftable relative to the lifting bodyabout the axis of the shaft, whereby the lifting body may be shiftedabout the axis of the shaft to position the laterally projecting memberin any desired plane of operation without axial displacement of thelifting body relative to the shaft, and the load engaging member may beindependently shifted about the axis of the shaft for engagement with aload to be raised.

ll. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type. an elongated shaft, abody embracing said shaft, said body and shaft being relativelyslidable, a holding clamp carried by the body and embracing the shaftand adapted to be normally canted to grip the shaft,\whereby to hold thebody and shaft against relative movement in one direction,

the

a radially extending engagement surface on the holding clamp, and acooperating engagement surface formed on said body, said body engagementsurface being laterally displaced with respect to the clamp engagementsurface whereby to facilitate the proper positioning of a release baradapted for application to the clamp engagement surface and fulcrummovement upon said body engagement surface.

12. A vehicle jack comprising a supporting column, a split tubularmember mounted on said column for actuation therealong, a vehiclesupporting portion carried by said tubular member, said vehiclesupporting portion comprising a rigid sleeve telescoping with said splittube and having at least one receiving ledge portion defined thereby toprovide a seat, said sleeve comprising a ferrule for reinforcing saidsplit tube, and means projecting from said tubular member mounted onsaid supporting column for providing a seat for said sleeve.

13. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, a base. an upstandingshaft operatively carried by the base, an elongated lifting bodycomprising a plurality of individual elongated body pieces collectivelyencircling said shaft and slidable therealong, friction gripping meansarranged within said body, means for securing said pieces together atthe top and bottom thereof, and means on at least one of said piecesforming a pivotal engagement for said friction gripping means.

14. A vehicle jack structure as defined in claim l2 wherein the rigidsleeve is rotatably mounted lupon the split tube, whereby to berotatably adjustably positioned thereon.

MILLARD' B. LUCKER.

